dorothea mackellar poetry awards

dorothea mackellar
poetry awards 2015
OPTIONAL
THEME
National Presentation Ceremony
From the President
As we mark the 130th anniversary of
Dorothea’s birth, it is refreshing to
re-visit the legacy of our Australian
cultural and historical icon.
Dorothea was imbued with a constant
sense of adventure and awareness
of nature’s moods and rich bounties.
Her ability to paint a picture with
adjectives and rhymes and to recreate an emotion with well-chosen
phrases has been an inspiration for
countless readers and students of her
work.
express, with artful insight, the
human experience. Our warmest
congratulations go to all participating
schools, teachers and students over
the years. We especially salute those
talented young poets who have won
the hearts of our distinguished judges,
whose expertise and enthusiasm is
so much appreciated. I look forward
to acknowledging and celebrating all
those involved in this year’s poetry
competition.
Jenny Farquhar
The Dorothea Mackellar Memorial
Society continues to share the
vision of founder of the Dorothea
Mackellar Poetry Awards, Mikie
Maas OAM to inspire schoolchildren,
using Dorothea’s legacy, to foster
“creative writing ... love of country ...
and a better understanding between
young Australians from various
backgrounds, who live in vastly
different circumstances throughout
our great continent”.
For 31 years now, students have
followed in Dorothea’s lyrical
footsteps using this national
competition as their platform to
Senator Scott Ryan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Ms Susan
Duncan, the award winning Australian author of “Salvation Creek” officiated at this year’s
launch, joined by representatives from the Department of Education, Canberra schools,
National Arboretum and the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society.
About our Trophies
Emily Simson continues an awards’
tradition of local artists creating
individual trophies which have found
their way into homes across Australia.
A fine arts graduate from the
University of Newcastle and an award
winning TAFE student, Emily has
been painting and printmaking for
more than 30 years. She has exhibited
successfully at shows and galleries
throughout northern NSW and in
Sydney.
From a studio on her family farm near
Bundella, 100km from Gunnedah,
she draws inspiration for much of her
work. Birds, animals, landscape and
domestic scenes have all featured in
her body of work.
“Under The Pear Tree”, a limited
edition linocut print which is
presented to this year’s winners, has
been made specifically for the awards.
Watching the peewees in the trees
near her house playing with Sunny, the
family kelpie, provided the idea for the
work.
“The dog is always looking up, the
birds are divebombing her while she
tries to catch them, she has no hope. It
is a playful image of a daily scene, one
that involves children and animals,”
Emily explains.
In many ways, the print represents
the spirit of the awards - it encourages
flights of thought, freedom and
movement.
Emily says she loves experimenting
with subjects and incorporating
movement into her work. “Sometimes
the subject matter becomes a vehicle
for colour,” she says. Her bold use
of colour and clarity of images,
particularly in her printmaking, are
hallmarks of her work.
Work on the trophies comes amid
a busy year for the artist with three
joint shows planned before the end of
the year.
2 | Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015
Artist Emily Simson with her print “Under
the Pear Tree” which will be presented to
winners in this year’s awards.
WINNER - LOWER PRIMARY
Charlie Carroll
Oxford Falls Grammar School , OXFORD FALLS NSW
Imagination
Blurred colours and shapes morph
into kaleidoscope images of fun.
Ideas flow, rushing through my head
like a river, destroying evil memories.
Nightmares fade.
Imagination.
Curious dreams dance, tumble and turn
all around.
I am smothered by happiness as a mural of vibrant light
spreads across a blank canvas.
Creativity unleashed.
Imagination.
Twisted pictures cascade like a
waterfall… transporting me to a
breathtaking place.
Their power cannot be quelled.
Imagination.
Judge’s Comment
Congratulations Charlie.
What a wonderful subject imagination - which I believe is a
precious gift for a writer. Lovely
use also of similes and metaphors,
imagery and strong vocabulary.
Creativity unleashed indeed.
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015 | 3
RUNNER UP - LOWER PRIMARY
Kiersten Ciastkowski
Brindabella Christian college, LYNEHAM ACT
Poppies
The ones who lay down by the cross;
The ones whose hearts have been lost.
In the fields where poppies grow,
Young ones play, remembering so.
Judge’s Comment
A few spare and beautiful words.
A wonderful example of a short and
perfect poem with a strong sense of
place. I love the idea of life moving
on, in a place where memories are
treasured.
4 | Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015
WINNER - UPPER PRIMARY
Lucia Gelonesi
SCEGGS , Darlinghurst NSW
Meeting Helen Keller
At first I did not think we could be friends
The weight of your will
Overwhelmed
Intimidated
Reading about you
And your preposterous accomplishments
So swarming with fantastic feats
From riding horses to learning Greek
Rendered me scrawny
Insufficiently unique
But after a while
I began to feel safe with you
And you shifted what I understood
To be human
Of course now I see
You are the most alive thing imaginable
Quietly uproarious
A thrashing soul
A universe flipped inside-out
Once in the bath I tried to feel what it was to be you
My head submerged
My eyes sealed
My ears filled with water
I waved my arms in front of me to fumble the universe
Inconceivably, you learned to caress it
To coax the world inside
But I am too alert and too inquisitive
To slide into adoration
My favourite story about you
The one I was so pleased to discover
About your eyes, so admired for their warmth and intelligence
Were in reality
Only cool pools of glass
Fashioned by a craftsman
This poem is incredibly mature
Perhaps it was a gift you gave yourself
and insightful for a 10 year old and
A secret
the subject, well, how wonderful to be
A private joke
reminded about the incredible Helen Keller.
In such a public life
It is clear that much time and thought,
drafting and redrafting, has gone into this
The world was not entitled to know everything
poem and each word chosen is perfect
I can imagine, when you laughed
for the place. The spacing, pauses and
Your whole body rippled with pleasure
line breaks only add to the poem’s
And the exquisite irony is
strength. Congratulations
You taught me
Lucia - a wonderful
piece.
How to see
Judge’s Comment
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015 | 5
RUNNER UP - UPPER PRIMARY
Saskia Fleming
Presbyterian Ladies’ College, PEPPERMINT GROVE WA
Lake Benji
The surface quivers
hooded plovers stand
black and red
against the white crust
paperbark trees envelop
kangaroos at guard
a black barb attacking the sky
the algae rests
on a stage of salt
clouds smother the light
and from the lake, a blush
6 | Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015
Judge’s Comment
Once again, very mature writing
for a 10 year old which gives a
perfect sense of place - being at the
lake. Wonderful use of poetic and
imaginative words, but it was the
final line which caught me.
Congratulations Saskia.
WINNER - ASSISTED LEARNING, PRIMARY
Aasha Rahman
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, WATERLOO NSW
My Life
The sky is full of darkness.
Dark clouds surround me.
People cry.
The streets are empty.
The shops shut down.
It is dark like a black cat.
People are sad like crying babies.
Judge’s Comment
BANG! My heart is lit blooming with red.
Joy is here.
I laugh again.
My door is open.
There were many poems which
used the theme of the open door,
but in this poem Aasha has made it
personal. From darkness and despair
she moves to a joyous place, lighting
her heart . . . and her door is
open. Congratulations Aasha.
RUNNER UP - ASSISTED LEARNING, PRIMARY
Chloe Webster
North Cottesloe Primary School, COTTESLOE WA
Judge’s Comment
I believe there is much more to
this poem than meets the eye. To
me it is a metaphor for friendship perhaps even leaves need friends
and family offering love and
support. Well done, Chloe.
The Gentle Leaf
One gentle leaf danced by itself
Down off the branches
With the light wind
To be with its friends
On the leafy floor below
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015 | 7
WINNER - JUNIOR SECONDARY
Lily McCann
The Friends’ School, NORTH HOBART TAS
Stolen
Death beckoned and to his fingers flew
Her last and final breath.
He gathered it up and sucked the warmth
From her white, still, silent flesh.
He painted with care across her skin
A wash of horrid blue
And lastly from her lips he took
The sweet red glowing hue.
And so she lay, his maiden white
Lips parted in surprise,
Eyes sweetly blank, fated not
To view the next sunrise.
Judge’s Comment
There is a distinctive voice to
this poem which is reflected in the
astonishing choice of words for the
first two lines. The images are deftly
painted with words that sustain
the sombre mood of the piece.
An outstanding work on a
difficult subject.
8 | Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015
RUNNER UP - JUNIOR SECONDARY
Abbey Hill
Academy Of Mary Immaculate, FITZROY VIC
Pop’s Teeth
An amazing thing happened
One lovely sunny day
When Pop and I went fishing
Out on the bay.
Then right before my eyes
as we headed for the shore
I really couldn’t believe
what I actually saw
My pop’s great at catching fish
He whistles while he waits
For a great big fish
To gobble up his bait.
It was a gummy shark
To be precise
Wearing a big grin
Pop’s teeth had fallen out
And he had put them in.
Nanna’s fab at cooking fish
She tosses them in the pot
Squeezes them with lemon
Then serves them up to Pop.
I dig up worms from the garden
The ones we use for bait
And watch them wiggle in the bucket
While we sit and wait.
Now there’s a happy gummy shark
Wearing a nice set of teeth
But Pop swears one day
He’ll catch that thief!!
But this particular day
Right before my eyes
I had an amazing
Unbelievable surprise.
AAAAACHOOOO!!!!!
Pop did one huge big sneeze
And his teeth flew into the air
Away with the breeze.
KAPLONK!!...Into the water
Went his pearly whites
It certainly was a sad
And sorry sight.
Then Pop turned to me
And it was a little funny
When he said without his teeth,
“No more fithing today honey.”
So without a fish in our bucket
Or Pop’s teeth in his mouth
We started up our motor
And headed on south.
Judge’s Comment
It is hugely difficult to create a
work that will make others laugh.
This is a superb example. The
cleverness of the rhyme, and the
sparkling, skipping meter add to
the absolute joy that it delivers.
A wonderful tale cleverly
told in verse.
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015 | 9
WINNER - SENIOR SECONDARY
Aryanne Caminschi
St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School, KARRINYUP WA
Riverstone
It could have been any other stone, at the beginning,
When it was
Plucked from amongst icy riverwater,
in curiosity and tucked, a treasure,
Into an orange polar fleece coat pocket, warm
But it stayed in that pocket longer than one might think,
and became smoother every time
It went through the wash
And the child who picked the pebble from the rest
Grew accustomed to the warm glassy reassurance in the right pocket
Of whatever he was adorned with for warmth that day
And as the polar fleece pocket changed from orange to navy
And navy to black
And polar fleece to leather and leather to silk
The black riverstone went from a souvenir of a walk,
To a relic of child’s wandering,
To a token inadvertently grasped in moments of alarm
Or sometimes nostalgia for times simpler
But as the pocket changed, as the child grew
The pebble stayed.
Judge’s Comment
The pebble here is used so effectively
to become an anchor on the journey
through life. Words are carefully placed
and selected to force the reader into
a rhythm which reflects this journey.
The personal tone of the work
invites the reader as a listener a very intimate sharing.
10 | Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015
RUNNER UP - SENIOR SECONDARY
Chris Lamboa
Redeemer Baptist School, NORTH PARRAMATTA NSW
Djäpana
The elders sat down on the sandy beach
Looking at djäpana.
Yapas & wawas,
Ŋarritj and ŋarritjans
All sat down admiring djäpana.
The baru in the sea,
The guya in the reefs,
Stood still to see djäpana.
Oh djäpana, oh what a wonder!
Leaving the sky in its beauty and colour.
So stand and wait for djäpana’s sake.
Do not look away now, do not forsake
Djäpana:
‘The glory of the sunset’.
Judge’s Comment
There is a tension created in the
structure of this work that is compelling.
It is almost a song and, like a song, begs
to be sung. The revelation of sunset
after the journey, cleverly placed in an
alternate language, is as satisfying
as the mystery of the unknown
words.
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015 | 11
WINNER - ASSISTED LEARNING, SECONDARY
Evan Feng
Redeemer Baptist School, NORTH PARRAMATTA NSW
People and Doors
People like doors
And people are like doors.
People open their doors
To new people and
New experiences.
People open their doors
To new opportunities and
Things that will make them feel secure
Or launch them into success.
People are like closed doors
So they can keep themselves
Free of unruly things like
Feelings and protect themselves
From getting hurt.
People also close their doors
Behind them so you can’t follow
When they decide that you’re not good enough
And walk away from you.
People like doors
And people are like doors.
Judge’s Comment
Such lovely words - ‘free of
unruly things’, almost like a
Sendak sequence. I love the insight
contained in the last verse and the
way it creates a shared intimacy.
A very special poem.
12 | Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015
RUNNER UP - ASSISTED LEARNING, SECONDARY
Jessica Campbell
Kyogle High School, KYOGLE NSW
The Silent Story
all dark and silent
not a thing in sight
trees with no leaves
sky with no clouds
all ground caved in
old dead leaves
nothing around me
I can’t hear anything or anyone
the town was destroyed by bombs from the war
houses burnt down
no people around
not a person to be found
dark and silent
Judge’s Comment
The careful selection of words to
paint bleakness creates a haunting
quality in this poem. The interruption
of the two longer lines breaks the
mood. They are unemotional
and factual. By doing this, the
sorrow and loss is made more
poignant. Beautiful work.
Schools’ Award
Primary Winner (Sheelah Baxter Award) - St Stephen’s Primary School, TAPPING WA
Secondary Winner - Cammeraygal High School, CROWS NEST NSW
Commendations
Brisbane School of Distant Education, BRISBANE QLD
Bullsbrook College, BULLSBROOK WA
Eltham East Primary School, ELTHAM VIC
Fairfield Public School, FAIRFIELD NSW
Hobart College, MT NELSON TAS
Manilla Central School, MANILLA NSW
Merewether High School, BROADMEADOW NSW
North Fitzroy Primary School, NORTH FITZROY VIC
Oxford Falls Grammar School, OXFORD FALLS NSW
Port Elliott Primary School, PORT ELLIOT SA
St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls, MOSMAN PARK WA
Tara Anglican School for Girls, NORTH PARRAMATTA NSW
Thomas Mitchell Primary School, ENDEAVOUR HILLS VIC
Waverley Christian College, WANTIRNA SOUTH VIC
Woollahra Public School, WOOLLAHRA NSW
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015 | 13
WINNER - COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION (NSW) AWARD
Katja Dedekind
Kenmore State High School, KENMORE QLD
The Open Door
I am a Refugee.
I’m homeless, poor, sick, and alone
And scared.
I’m on an old wooden boat.
It’s unstable, cramped and leaking.
It’s falling apart as we are moving.
The sea is so murky.
Nobody can see the bottom.
Everyone thinks there is no bottom.
I can see fish swimming.
Birds flying,
Every now and then.
We are no longer stranded.
We are in a huge detention centre.
It’s so hot because we are in the desert.
I wish we were still on that boat.
After being in this place.
This barbed-wire prison.
I am free.
Freedom is amazing.
I feel like an eagle soaring high,
Above the clouds.
Out of the reach of everything and everyone.
14 | Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015
Judge’s Comment
Told in simple words and through
the use of present tense, the poet
transports us and we journey with
her. Her last reference to freedom
reveals how strongly her life has been
confined and we celebrate as well as
feel her release.
Primary Judge’s Report - Corinne Fenton
I would like to begin this report by saying thank you to all
those students for writing, teachers for guiding and parents
for glancing over their children’s shoulders, in this year’s
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry competition.
As was the case last year, it was very difficult for me to
choose what I believe are the very best poems out of the
thousands I read and re-read and I’d like to say that if your
poem isn’t among those winning, highly commended or
commended ones, that doesn’t mean that your poem wasn’t
good - so please don’t ever stop writing poetry.
For me, at times the task was daunting, but as was the case
last year, I made sure that daily entries were read every
night before I went to sleep. I was plagued with the horror
of missing a ‘gem’ when I was often struggling to keep my
eyes open.
Once again, it was a special privilege to hear the voices
of Australian primary school children sharing their joys,
worries, celebrations and concerns, large and small pieces
of their lives, captured in the words they shared in their
precious poetry. In the awarded poems, I have chosen a
broad-brush of subjects which express the trials, hopes and
dreams of this young generation. I have always believed
poetry is an excellent vehicle for sharing and airing selfexpression and this year’s entries, once again, confirmed
that.
The Upper Primary Category had a particularly large
number of strong entries this year and conversely
submission numbers were down for the Assisted Learning
Category. Poetry styles, subjects and themes were diverse
with many students choosing this year’s theme of The Open
Door. While some poems showcased extensive vocabulary
and comprehension, there were others which, although
beginning strong, were not written through to the end. But
that is, I hope, only one small piece of constructive criticism.
I am already missing the daily word-gems falling into the
Judge’s inbox, but what a precious privilege it has been.
Thank you.
Our judge for the Primary
sections, Corinne Fenton, is
a full time author who has
a passion for picture books.
Corinne has 20 educational
books and seven picture books
published, with three more
coming in the next few months.
Secondary Judge’s Report – Nette Hilton
Here is the thing – poetry is an awakening. There is no way
to escape seeing the world in a different way having been
immersed in it– seeing its beauty, confusion and complexity.
It is a basis on which judgements and generalisations can
be made. It is a basis for forming opinion that has been
well considered because poetry forces you to consider
language and to go and seek and find the best word for the
best time to reveal your deepest thoughts. And then, having
undertaken this journey, insight and epiphany travel side by
side.
A friend of mine used to take herself down to St Kilda
Baths to photograph dawn. She was mesmerised by the
beauty of light on water. A swimmer who’d noticed her daily
appearance, looked to the horizon with her. ‘What’s there?’
he asked. ‘What do you take photos of?’ She told him and he
stood with her and watched the sun rise. He’d seen it before
but never really looked. Similarly we need to learn to hear.
Having your eyes opened by seeing life as art, and learning
to hear the world through poetry begin the journey.
These students have astounded me with their
understanding of the power of words and have used it so
effectively and efficiently to involve me in their journeys. I
have walked many walks and heard many tales. I have seen
evidence of pain in the imagined journeys of refugees, I
have witnessed the outrage at inequality – if it was left to
these poets there’d be no such thing as racism, or refugees
or gender inequity. I have laughed out loud at some of the
humour and the wickedness of implied meanings.
This year these students have surpassed themselves.
My hardest task was dividing them into categories and
then having to re-arrange them when I had 164 highly
commended into ten! Honestly, ten!
I will be sorry to end my time with the Dorothea Mackellar
Poetry Awards. I have loved the poetry which has
entrenched my belief that it is the absolute beginning for
seeking deeper meaning.
Remember, educators and curriculum makers and poets
and singers and artists. Poetry begins it - you cannot begin
at the end. It’s like unravelling a sweater to see how it fits.
Nette Hilton, senior sections’
judge, is a full time author of
70 books including some award
winners and translations. Her
poetry has bridged across to
song-writing and features on
an album by James Thornbury,
‘Like At First Sight’.
Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards 2015 | 15
Thank you to our Supporters and Sponsors
Supported by the Australian Government
Fremantle Press, Random House, University of Queensland Press,
Mrs Heather Palmer and National Arboretum Canberra
Endorsed by the Children’s Book Council of Australia
2015 Anthology Order Form
To order, please complete the following details and return form with payment. Please use block letters.
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2015 Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards Anthology The winning, runner-up, short listed and highly commended poems
$30.00 (inc GST + P&H)
A Poet’s Journey, Dorothea Mackellar $35.00 (inc GST + P&H)
A selection of Dorothea Mackellar’s poetry
My Heart, My Country $20.00 (inc GST + P&H)
The Story of Dorothea Mackellar by Adrienne Howley
Cheques or money orders should be made payable to:
Dorothea Mackellar Memorial Society Inc. (ABN 88 639 657 712)
PO Box 113, GUNNEDAH NSW 2380
Telephone: 02 6742 1200 | Fax: 02 6742 1435
Email: [email protected] | Website: www.dorothea.com.au